Category Archives: PFIT TIPS
WORKOUTS – EXERCISES – TRAINING TIPS
Let’s get PFIT! It’s time to workout! Get fresh new workouts, training ideas and exercise tips to start, or tweak, your program so you get that bod you’ve been longing for!! Success is just around the corner! Get to know your body and how fitness truly works when you do it right. Each blog offer applicable tips and information to help you reach your goals.
Sweat & Tone! Awesome Shoulder Workout
This was my workout yesterday. This is not a bodybuilder workout where you isolate muscles and rest in between exercises. Prepare to SWEAT! I was dripping wet and out of breath practically the whole time. I’m sharing the weight I did so you can get a feel for the right resistance for you. :) Have fun!
Click on the links to see video instruction if you are unfamiliar with an exercise.
#1 SET (5 Sets)
10-12 Heavy Push Presses and Split Jerks
#1: 45lb Bar Standing Military Press
#2: 55lbs Push Press
#3: 65lb Push Press
#4: 75lb Split Jerk
#5 85lb Split Jerk
TIP: Rest between sets so you can lift heavy. Not TOO much rest though. :)
#2 SUPER SET
10 25lb Snatches (10 Left & 10 Right)
10 Alternating Shoulder Press (ladders) with 8-10lb dumbbells (10 each arm/20 total)
TIP: no rest between exercise. Rest AFTER both exercises are complete back to back.
#3 SUPER SET
10 45lb Bar Moderate Military or Push Press
10 8lb Dumbbell Alternating Shoulder Press (Fast ladder press – 10 each arm/20 total)
10 5lb Dumbbell Lateral Raises
TIP: On ladders, one hand should be going down WHILE the other is going up to keep BOTH arms moving. Otherwise one arm gets rest while the other arm works. This super set is about wearing them out.) NO REST until all 3 exercises are complete. Short rest between super sets.
#4 SUPER SET
12 Face Pulls with Rope
12 Rear Delt Raises
Let me know how you do!! :)
Fitness: Beyond Your Gym Attendance
Have you heard that saying, “you can stand in the garage, but that doesn’t make you a car? Well the same applies to fitness.
Going to the gym doesn’t make you fit. Even doing an occasional intense workout doesn’t necessarily get you fit either. Your body needs a lot more than just regular gym attendance – it needs a healthy lifestyle. Being fit requires eating for fuel, giving your body the nutrients it needs to grow and repair. It requires discipline. You may need to say “No’ next time you are asked to go out when you know your body desperately needs rest. Your body needs ample fluids for healthy hydration and to help flush toxins. Your body needs good posture to relieve joints and to prevent injury. Sadly, there are a lot of people working hard in the gym to get fit, who are destroying their bodies as soon as they walk out the door.
Whether it’s eating junk food, smoking, drinking, not getting rest, allowing too much stress in your life or being in an unhealthy relationship, unhealthy choices can trump any good workout if you are not careful.
Sure, you might get stronger if you lift weights regularly, but you could still die of lung cancer if you smoke. You could still be at risk of diabetes and obesity related illness even if you do regular cardio, if you continue to eat healthy. Even if you workout, you can still be at risk for injury due to poor posture or tight muscles.
The bottom line is you can’t expect to pick and choose what you are willing to do to be fit and healthy. Being fit is something you work toward all day long. Decide to strive for the full package – healthy inside and out. Look healthy because you ARE healthy!
- Be STRONG: Lift weights regularly
- Be FIT: Challenge your cardiovascular system with regular cardio
- Be HEALTHY: Eat healthy food – you really are what you eat!
- Be FLEXIBLE: Remember to stretch tight muscles to prevent poor posture and injury.
- Be CALM: Meditate, pray and rest. Your body and mind needs quiet time too.
5 Ways to Squat
Did you know you can target different parts of your legs by changing the positioning of you feet and where you place your weight? Here is a video explaining how your footing matters.
1. Weight on toes: Works more quadricep
2. Weight on heels: Works more hamstring and glutes
3. Wide stance (Plie Squat): Works more inner thigh.
4. Regular stance: Works neutral (all areas equally)
5. Narrow stance (Sissy Squat): Works more outer thigh.
For a complete leg workout using squats do the following exercises. Can be done with or without weight.
WEIGHT ON HEELS
20 Plie Squats
20 Regular Squats
20 Sissy Squats
WEIGHT ON TOES
20 Plie Squats
20 Regular Squats
20 Sissy Squats
X 2-3 Sets
Tip #1: Wear flat shoes (like Reebok’s CrossFit Nanos) for leg day so you don’t shift your weight on your toes accidentally.
Tip #2: You can add a piece of wood, or small weights under your heels or toes to help you shift your weight where you want it.
Tip #3: Muscle needs to be broken down to repair and get stronger. Too much rest time can be counterproductive.
Tip #4: It’s better to go light, and go DEEP (as long as your knees can handle it) than it is to go heavy and squat shallow. Besides, if you are weaker the deeper you go, that just means THAT is where you need strengthening the most! If you avoid going deep, you are not strengthening the muscles required for deep squats.
The Fanny Firmer Workout
Start this intense glute and leg circuit with the left leg planted, right leg moving. Take NOOOOO REST until you do both legs. Work through the burn – it will pay off big-time!!
16 Step Back Lunges
16 Lunge Kicks
16 Repeater Knees
16 Stomps
16 Jumping In & Out Squats
REPEAT with right leg planted and left leg moving. Again, NO REST until the entire circuit is complete. Rest for 1-2 minutes between rounds. Repeat 3 times. Add to cardio (Circuit + 10 min cardio X 3).
This segment is part of this month’s kickboxing routine led by Steve Pfiester at Max Fitness Club, held on Mondays & Wednesdays at 5:30pm.
Get a FREE WEEK PASS and do this workout at the Max!
4 Insane Treadmill Workouts
Steve Pfiester designed 4 KILLER workouts you can do on a treadmill to work your entire body. There are 4 VIDEOS: Upper Body, Lower Body, Conditioning & Cardio. Each video is normally $9.99 (for standard definition, $12.99 for high-def), but NOW they are Only $2.99!!
Use this Discount Code 7OFFNOW to get $7 OFF any video on our site.
Here’s a video on the workout series:
Download your videos right now!
Bikini Leg & Back Workout
Here’s one of the leg and back workouts for our Bikini Boot Campers. BCx Bikini Boot Camp is a program we are running for bikini competitors and women just wanting to look fit on the beach. The girls are getting insane results!
For example, Ashley dropped from 23.9% body fat to 16.9% body fat by increasing muscle and decreasing fat in just 4 weeks. Lauren lost 15lbs in 4 weeks without losing one pound of muscle!! SO many success stories! The program incorporates diet, weights, classes and cardio homework. Some of them are competing and some are just going through the training and diet to get in the best shape they can.
Here is a pic of just a few of our girls. We have about 40 in Bikini Boot Camp and 15-20 competing. Congrats girls! You guys are totally rocking!
Our bikini boot campers do 3 group workouts a week, plus are given extra cardio and weights homework to do on their own. Here’s a taste of one of our “homework” assignments. (Learn more about our programs at Max Fitness.)
Hamstrings:
NOTE: Click on the exercise to watch video instructions
Prone Hamstring Curl
SETS: 5
REPS: 20,18,15,12,10
RESISTANCE: 35,45,50,55,60
REST: 30-45 seconds max rest time.
Try to keep resistance high but it is more important to hit the rep range goal. Every set alternate feet position from wide (8”apart) to close (touching)
Alternating Standing Hamstring Curl
SETS: 5
REPS: 15
RESISTANCE: 20 (Increase each set as possible)
REST: 20-30 seconds max rest time.
Keep upper supporting leg (femur) against the pad. Complete 5 sets on both legs. No rest when switching left and right.
Quadriceps:
Leg Press
SETS: 5
REPS: 25,20,15,15,15
RESISTANCE: 2plates, 3plates, 4plates, 5plates, 6plates
REST: 45-60 seconds max rest time maintain shoulder width foot position.
Keep seat back in the lowest position to allow for increased ROM. Push with your heals with no pauses, (continuous motion). Try to keep resistance high but it is more important to
hit the rep range goal.
Heavy Walking Lunges
SETS: 3
REPS: 20 (40 total-20 each leg)
RESISTANCE: 15, 20, 25 (2 dumbbells each hand)
REST: 45-60 seconds max rest time weight the front foot.
No pause, use continuos motion. Grip strength may become an issue. Short steps with depth, almost touching the back knee to the ground.
Leg Extension
SETS: 5
REPS: 25,20,15,15,15
RESISTANCE: 40,45,50,60,60
REST: 45-60 seconds max rest time change leg position randomly across all five sets.
Make sure to get full ROM by allowing your legs to go all the way down and all the way up. NO PAUSING (use continuous motion)
BACK
SETS: 5
REPS: 15
RESISTANCE: 50,60,70,?,?
REST: 45 seconds max rest time, superset each set with 10 push ups.
Remember when pulling down to imagine pushing DOWN with your elbows instead of pulling down with your hands. Stay extended through your thorax (bow your chest up) towards the bottom end of the range as you try to touch your clavicle (collar bone) with the bar.
SETS: 5
REPS: 15
RESISTANCE: 50,60,70,?,?
REST: 45 seconds max rest time, superset each set with 20 (each side) bicycle crunches.
Remember when pulling down to imagine pushing DOWN with your elbows instead of pulling down with your hands. Stay extended through your thorax (bow your chest up) towards the bottom end of the range as you try to touch your chest with the close grip handles keeping your elbows in close. Remember to keep your elbows out wide and rotate your body to touch your elbow to your knee (instead of pointing your elbows forward to reach your knee). Focus on rotation through the waist.
SETS: 4
REPS: 15
RESISTANCE: 50,60,70,?,?
REST: 45 seconds max rest time, superset each set with 20 side plank pulses .
Remember when pulling back low into your waist try to imagine pushing BACK with your elbows instead of pulling BACK with your hands. Stay extended through your thorax (bow your chest up) towards the end of the range as you try to touch your navel with the bar (USE LONG PULL DOWN BAR AND GRIP ON THE OUTSIDE ANGLE.
Leg Workout Graphic:
GYM BAG: Prissy, Practical & Pretty
I use my gym bag more than I do my purse! A matter of fact, I don’t even CARRY a purse during the week! A rely on my gym bag to carry all my belongings around. That is also why I don’t want to lug an ugly bulky manly bag from home to work to the gym or whereever!
So when I recently discovered Fivesse Home-Gym-Work Bag, I instantly fell in love! Maybe it was the soft pink accents. Maybe it was the cute tabs on all the pockets to help you organize your things. It could have been the pretty color combinations and patterns. When I try to pinpoint it, I simply can’t! I think it’s D: All of the above!
I got my bag with a matching garment bag for those times I need to have a nice change of clothes on a hanger instead of all bunched up in a gym bag. This was a super nice addition and perfect for any career woman or traveler. This bag would also be a fantastic carryon for those quick trips.
Here are some of the things I loved most about my bag:
Separate laundry pouch for wet clothes!
Vented Shoe Pouch
Straps to hold a yoga mat or towel
Clip for keys or gym key card
Cool little gadget in the shape of their logo to wrap chords, organizing headphones or USB chords for charging iPods or iPhones.
Not one, but TWO bottle holders!! This is great for me since I like to have a water bottle AND a spot for a travel mug, energy drink or protein shake!
Love all the pockets! It makes me feel SO organized!
Tons of storage pockets for:
- class schedules/ipad
- dirty clothes
- glasses
- gym card
- gym toiletries
- keys
- lock
- music
- earbuds
- phone
- shoes
- valuables
- water bottle
4 Different Awesome Patterns:
Cost: $124
Garment Bag: $64
Peddle Yourself Fit: How to Get the Most Out of a Stationary Bike
I run into a lot of people nursing injuries, or limited by joint issues. Unfortunately, as soon as someone is injured they often quit exercising altogether – but there is hope! It’s called a stationary bike.
If you have ever been to a rehabilitation center, you know physical therapist rely heavily on Stationary Bikes. It gets the patient’s joints moving without extra weight on the joint, it’s safe (less chance of falling off a bike than a treadmill) and it exercises the heart and lunges.
If you are unable to do weight bearing exercise (like walking, running or doing the elliptical), using a stationary bike is a great alternative – IF you use it right.
Here are 4 ways to peddle your way to fitness success.
1. Learn proper set-up. Have you ever seen a big person on a little bike. It looks ridiculous doesn’t it? Well, it’s not just silly looking, it’s dangerous. Before you begin your workout, adjust the seat where your legs comfortably stretch out to reach the peddles. When your leg is stretched out all the way, your leg should only have a slight bend without locking the knee out at full extension. If you are bike shopping, don’t cut corners just to save money. Cheap bikes often are tipsy and not as comfortable. Your health is worth the investment. Look for a wide base, comfortable seat, heart rate monitor, built-in workout programs and sturdy framing to make your workout more enjoyable.
2. No coasting. Many people get on a bike like they are going out for some kind of joy ride instead of actually working out. They peddle slowly, as if that is going to do something miraculous. Maybe it’s because they are comfortable. With recumbent bikes these days, bikes have nice cushy backs on the seat and even arm rests, so no wonder you may start yawning! You can’t coast your way to success. Ride like you are going somewhere.
3. Peddle with purpose. I see some people hop on the bike and mentally leave the planet into some far off land. If you want your bike exercise to change your body, and your health, you need to have a gang plan. Many bikes, like the NordicTrac GX 3.4, have built in workout programs. The GX 3 actually has 23 programs to choose from, so you could practically have a fresh new workout every time you ride throughout each month! If your bike has programs, USE THEM! Don’t just peddle at your own pace, use the programs to train and challenge you.
4. Track your heart rate. Your heart rate is the most accurate way to determine how hard you are working. First, find out your maximum heart rate (220 minus your age). Then, multiple that number by your desired target heart rate. 60-70% for beginners, 70-80% for intermediate training and 80-90% for advanced training. Interval workouts are even more effective for fat burning and conditioning. Interval workouts are when you exercise at a high peak of 80-90% of your maximum heart rate, followed by a recovery period at a lower heart rate. For example, 1 minute at 80-90%, followed by 2 minutes at 70-80% for a high intensity workout, or 2 minutes at 70-80% of your maximum heart rate followed by 3 minutes at 60-70% for a moderate intensity workout.
Reebok ZQuick Winner!
Congratulations to Chris Narbone, for being the lucky guy to get a FREE PAIR of Reebok ZQuick running shoes!!
I just checked out your website Chris (AmplifyToday.com) and was so excited to see your passion for running! These shoes couldn’t have gone to a better contestant! You do great reviews and offer awesome info for runners!! CONGRATS!
Follow Chris Online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amplifytoday
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amplifytoday
Blog: http://amplifytoday.com
Here are the shoes he won. CLICK HERE to learn more or shop!
Fit Legs: Leg Workout
Here’s a new Leg Workout designed for women by Bikini Coach and personal trainer, Steve Pfiester, created for the gym. Let us know how you like it!
Rest Time:
45 SECONDS max rest time between sets
2 minutes between exercises
Hack squats: 4 sets/15 reps each
suggested: start with 1-25lb plate on only one side.
Try to increase each set, BUT it is more important to get 15 reps than go heavier and stop early
Single leg leg press: 4 sets/20 reps each
suggested: start with 1-25lb plate on only one side.
Try to increase each set, BUT it is more important to get 20 reps than go heavier and stop early
Ham string curls: 5sets > #1 20 reps, #2 18 reps, #3 15 reps, #4 15 reps, #5 12 reps
Suggested: Start at 35lbs and go heavier by 5-10lbs every set. Please maintain your reps
Leg Extension: 5 sets/ 15 reps
Suggested: Start at 40lbs and go up. But keep you reps up
